Before You Share That Story: A Christian Guide to Truth Online

By Michael Scheele and Christine Temko-Scheele

It only takes a few seconds.

We see a headline that confirms something we already believe. Maybe it involves politics, culture, the church, or a public figure. It makes the other side look dishonest, foolish, or dangerous. Before we’ve read the entire story, checked the source, or looked for the original context, our finger is already hovering over the share button.

That’s precisely when we need to stop.

The most dangerous stories aren’t always the ones that seem obviously false. Sometimes they’re the ones we desperately want to be true.

When “Us Versus Them” Distorts the Truth

The world is deeply divided. News and politics are regularly presented as a conflict between “us” and “them.” Once we accept that framing, the people on the other side can begin to look less like neighbors who are wrong and more like enemies who must be defeated.

That changes the way we process information.

When a story makes the other side look bad, we may become less concerned about whether it’s completely accurate. Even when part of the claim is proven false, we may find ways to justify sharing it:

“They probably did something like that.”

“It still proves the larger point.”

“Even if this particular story isn’t true, they’ve done plenty of other things.”

In other words, we can make something feel true in our own minds because we believe the person or group deserves the accusation.

Christians cannot accept that standard.

A person’s other sins, mistakes, or beliefs don’t give us permission to speak falsely about them. Truth doesn’t become optional when we’re talking about someone we strongly oppose.

False Witness Is Still False Witness

The commandment is clear:

“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”
Exodus 20:16, KJV

There’s no exception for political disagreements, social media, or people whose behavior we find offensive. Even when someone is wrong in every other regard, we still have a responsibility to tell the truth about that person.

An honest mistake isn’t the same as a deliberate lie. However, that doesn’t remove our responsibility to exercise reasonable care before repeating an accusation.

Proverbs warns us:

“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”
Proverbs 18:13, KJV

Sharing a headline without reading the story is answering a matter before hearing it. Reacting to a short video without searching for the full recording may be answering before hearing it. Repeating someone else’s summary without examining the original source can lead us into the same mistake.

There’s also a practical consequence. When people discover that something we shared was false, it weakens both our argument and our Christian testimony. It gives them reason to doubt the other things we say, including the things that are true.

If we’re careless with the truth when discussing politics, why should anyone trust us when we speak about Jesus Christ?

What Are We Trying to Accomplish?

Before posting, sharing, or responding, it helps to ask an honest question:

What am I trying to accomplish?

Am I trying to inform people?

Am I hoping to change someone’s heart or mind?

Am I trying to defend someone who is being harmed?

Or am I simply trying to win an argument, embarrass an opponent, or enjoy the approval of people who already agree with me?

No matter the subject, our greater purpose should remain the same. We should seek to be a faithful testimony for our Lord and Saviour.

That doesn’t mean Christians should remain silent about wrongdoing. We’re called to be salt in this world. We should be willing to stand for truth and speak about what is right.

At the same time, truth must be communicated with love and grace. Justice and love aren’t opposing ideas. Both reflect the character of God, and Christians shouldn’t abandon either one.

Our anger can’t be allowed to destroy our testimony. The person who disagrees with us isn’t the true enemy. We may oppose that person’s ideas or actions, but we must remember that he or she is still a soul for whom Christ died.

Slow Down and Verify

Truth usually asks us to slow down, while outrage demands an immediate reaction.

Before sharing something, consider checking five basic things:

1. Authenticity: Is the quotation, photograph, video, or document genuine?

2. Source: Who originally published it? Is that source identifiable and credible?

3. Evidence: Does the story provide evidence, or does it only make an accusation?

4. Context: Is a quotation or video clip being presented in its full and proper context?

5. Reasoning: Does the conclusion follow from the evidence, or does it merely appeal to fear and anger?

These are similar to the five credibility factors recommended by the nonpartisan News Literacy Project. The organization also warns that stories confirming our existing beliefs may feel true even when no credible source has verified them.

Whenever possible, find the original speech, document, interview, report, or video. Compare coverage from multiple credible sources. Check the date, because old photographs and stories are frequently recirculated as if they happened today.

If the claim cannot be verified, don’t share it.

Not Everything True Needs to Be Shared

Verification is only the first question. Once we determine that something is true, we should still ask whether it ought to be shared.

Will sharing it accomplish anything useful?

Does it protect someone, clarify an important issue, or help people make an informed decision?

Is it presented fairly?

Does it include necessary context?

Are we sharing it with love and grace, or are we using the truth as a weapon to humiliate someone?

A true statement can still be shared with a sinful motive. We can tell the truth in a way that is cruel, unnecessarily inflammatory, or designed only to provoke people.

Our objective matters. So does our manner.

When We Get It Wrong

All of us will make mistakes. We may trust the wrong source, misunderstand a claim, or share something before all the facts are available.

When that happens, the correction and apology should be as public as the original post.

Quietly deleting a false claim doesn’t undo the damage. The people who saw the original post may never discover that it was inaccurate. Removing it without explanation also avoids taking responsibility for what happened.

Instead, we should be public, humble, and sincere:

“I shared this earlier, but I’ve since learned that it was inaccurate. I should have verified it before posting, and I apologize.”

That kind of admission may feel embarrassing, but humility doesn’t damage our testimony. Refusing to admit the truth does.

Owning the mistake demonstrates that our loyalty is to truth rather than pride or reputation.

Resting in Something More Reliable

H. A. Ironside once wrote:

“Faith is to rest, not in the best of God’s servants but in His unchanging Word.”

Public figures, commentators, pastors, and journalists can all make mistakes. Some will fail morally. Others may disappoint us or prove unworthy of the confidence people placed in them.

Our peace cannot rest in any of them.

When King Hezekiah received the threatening message from the Assyrians, he took it into the house of the Lord, spread it before God, and prayed. He didn’t allow the threats of the enemy to become greater in his mind than the power of God.

We can do the same.

Being informed doesn’t require us to live in a constant state of outrage. Speaking the truth doesn’t require cruelty. Standing for what’s right doesn’t require spreading every accusation that helps our side.

Our peace is found in the Lord, and our foundation is His unchanging Word.

Teaching Children to Recognize Truth Online

Parents should remain involved with the content their children encounter online. Children need to understand that anything found on the internet may contain bias, exaggeration, missing context, or complete fabrication.

We can help them develop better habits by teaching them to ask:

• Who created this?

• What does the creator want me to believe or feel?

• What evidence is provided?

• Can I find the original source?

• Is the full context available?

• Have trustworthy sources confirmed it?

• Am I sharing this because it’s true or because it supports what I already believe?

Our example will teach even more than our instructions. Children should see us pause before sharing, investigate questionable claims, and admit openly when we make a mistake.

If we demand honesty from them while carelessly repeating rumors ourselves, they’ll notice the contradiction.

Before You Press Share

Before posting that next story, pause and ask:

• Have I read more than the headline?

• Have I verified the source and evidence?

• Have I looked for the full context?

• Am I treating the people involved as human beings rather than enemies?

• What am I hoping this post will accomplish?

• Can I share it with truth, love, and grace?

• Am I willing to correct it publicly if I’m wrong?

The world doesn’t need Christians contributing more noise, rumors, and anger. It needs believers whose words can be trusted.

Truth doesn’t need falsehood to defend it. Our cause isn’t strengthened by carelessness, and our testimony isn’t protected by refusing to admit mistakes.

Before we share the story, let’s be certain that we aren’t bearing false witness. Let’s speak the truth, communicate it with grace, and remember that representing our Lord and Saviour is more important than winning an argument online.